Apparatus for grading material



Aug. 8, 1939.

R. E. CHURCH ET AL APPARATUS FOR GRADING MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. I 7 1936 wgmw GEE-

ATTORNEYJ Aug. 8, 1939.

R. E. CHURCH ET AL APPARATUS FOR GRADING MATERIAL Filed Jan.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS g- 1939- R. E. CHURCH ET AL 2,168,338

APPARATUS FOR G RADING MATERIAL 7 Filed Jan. 7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYj Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Raymond E. Church, Cincinnati, and George L. Sellars, Milford, Ohio; said Sellars assignor to said Church Application January 7, 1936, Serial No. 57,928

1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for separating and segregating materials such as gravel, coal, coke, etc., for the purposes of grading the same and/or removing debris therefrom, and is particularly directed to a reciprocatory mechanism for these purposes.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism of this character, which by the use of a reciprocatory means imparts advancing or feeding movement to the material and in so doing accomplishes separation and segregation for various purposes, as for example, the separation of gravel, coal, coke, etc., into grades such as coarse, medium and fine or the removal of debris therefrom.

' One embodiment of the invention may incorporate one or a series of reciprocating screens and a series of bins to which the segregated materials may be delivered as they are advanced over the screen. The invention may also take form in a mechanism for the purpose of removing debris from gravel, coal, coke, etc. by employing an imperforate reciprocating support mounted in the improved manner herein disclosed and reciprocated by the improved oper- 'ating apparatus of this invention, wherein the object above set forth is achieved.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for the purposes above set forth which is simple and easily constructed, which embodies less operating mechanism, and therefore fewer wearing parts, and which is more efficient and durable than equipment heretofore designed for these purposes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved mounting for the reciprocating parts, which advance and separate the material, which incorporates insulation protecting the apparatus from the effects of vibration and reciprocation which. would otherwise tend to cause crystallization. This insulation may be in the form of rubber pads between the reciprocating support and the stationary framework.

It is a still further object to provide means for the purpose of decreasing the vibration, which means may be incorporated in the driving or operating mechanism.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide for adjustment in the advancing or feeding mechanism enabling the operator to alter the operation and maintain uniformity when the weight and size of the material particles varies.

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a complete installation embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33, Fig. 2, showing the internal structure of the reciprocating feeding and separating unit in a general manner.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4, Fig. 3, further illustrating the internal details of the reciprocating unit as well as the hopper arrangement for material discharged from the reciprocating unit.

Figure 5 is an end view of the apparatus looking at the driving mechanism thereof.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line E-6, Fig. 1, illustrating one of the supporting devices, movably mounting the reciprocating unit on the framework.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1, Fig. 6, further illustrating the device of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-S, Fig. '7, showing further details of the device of this view.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 99, Fig. 3, showing in detail the driving mechanism and the compensating unit incorporated therein; also, illustrating the connection of the driving mechanism to the reciprocating unit.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I0, Fig. 9, detailing one of the connections from the power shaft to the reciprocating unit.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line I l-H, Fig. 9, illustrating in detail one of the counterweights.

The invention may be said to reside in a mechanism by means of which materials such as coal, coke, gravel, etc., are advanced by reciprocation of the element supporting such materials, the mechanism causing short feed impulses in one direction only and the feed in no way being dependent on inclination or sustained travel of the supporting unit. The supporting surfaces may be perforate for a sifting action during these feeding impulses since they have a vibratory action distinctly advantageous to sifting. Also the supporting surfaces may be imperforate if desired for separation of the particles as caused by their weight and size and therefore relatively difierent 50 rates of movement.

The invention in another view point may be said to reside in the provision of an apparatus including a horizontal surface or surfaces adapted to receive material such as coal, coke, etc., which 55 apparatus includes mechanism active on the material for separating, cleaning and/or grading the same as it is being advanced or conveyed therethrough, and wherein a reciprocating support is mounted and actuated for angular movements to advance or feed the material solely by the action of the rapidly reciprocating mechanism and without the employment of any other factor acting relative to the material. The angularity of the movements may be adjusted to maintain uniformity of rate when the size and weight of the particles of material varies.

A preferred form of the invention may embody a support surface such as a screen and a throw mechanism for reciprocating the screen, moving the same relative to inclined guideways, through which mounting and action the screen is given a rapid reciprocatory movement. This apparatus feeds the material forwardly definitely because of rapid upward and forward movement of the screen in one direction and returns the screen without returning the material by rapid rearward and downward movement of the screen.

In other words, all of the movement of the material toward the results above set forth is brought about by rapid reciprocation which tends to move the material forwardly because of a lifting or upward pressure in the forward direction, and tends to drop the screen from under the material at a rate faster than gravity can act for moving the screen rearwardly without moving the material rearwardly.

Described in general, apparatus in the drawings embodies a framework ID mcvably supporting the advancing and separating unit I I and the hopper and delivery unit I2, guiding means I3 for the unit II mounted on the framework In, a reciprocating means I4, a power means such as an electric motor I5 for driving the reciprocating means, and bins I6 for receiving the material from the feeding and separating unit I I.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the framework I0 is a fabrication comprising a rectangular' frame formed of channel iron ele-7 ments I'I. Posts I8 support the rectangular frame and provide the necessary space for the bins l6 below the advancing and separating unit II. The hopper and delivery unit I2 is a fabrication of uprights I9 forming a square structure, cross pieces supporting the uprights, and diagonal braces 2I making the unit more rigid.

The container 22, included as a support of the unit I2 and adapted for receiving the material, is provided with an inclined or hopper-like bottom 23. A chute 24 extends angularly downwardly forwardly from the constricted opening at the bottom of the chamber or container 22.

This chute 24 terminates directly above a receiving extension or tray portion 25 of the feeding separating unit II. The advancing and separating unit (for the purpose of providing a disclosure of one embodiment of the invention), incorporates a plurality of screens 28 at different elevations. In the present instance two screens are shown. The top screen is of coarse mesh and the lower screen of fine mesh.

The body of the unit comprises sides 21, an end 28, toward the actuating mechanism or the end from which the receiving extension projects, and cross pieces 29 at the delivery end. The cross pieces at the delivery end respectively provide supports for the outer ends of the screens. Additional cross pieces 30 are provided at the intake end of the unit for supporting the screens at that end.

Angle iron support strips or rails 3| are secured to the side walls of the unit, one at each side of each screen, for the purpose of supporting the side margins thereof. To this end the angle iron strips have their horizontally disposed flange arranged so that their top surfaces are in the same plane as the top surfaces of the cross pieces. Support strands of wire 32, or rods if required, are interlaced beneath the screens for the purpose of supporting the screens against sagging, these rods or strands of wire being appropriately mounted in the side walls and the cross pieces of the unit.

Clamping strips 33 are secured against the side walls of the unit above each side edge margin of the screens, each strip providing a horizontal flange lying against the screen, and an inclined flange extending back against the particular side wall of the unit. Angularly disposed bolts 34 secure these clamping strips in position and tend to draw them downwardly because of the downwardly disposed position of the bolts thereby rigidly clamping the edge margins of the screen in position. This entire unit or the major portion thereof may be lined with rubber 35 for the purpose of deadening the sound preventing wearing of the metal.

In the illustrated installation, three bins IG are provided. The forwardly disposed one receives the very coarse material which is worked forwardly on the top screen and falls from the end thereof into an inclined chute 36 directing it to the mentioned bin. The coarse segregated or graded material passing through the top screen and falling to the lower screen but r fusing to go through the lower screen, is delivered to another bin IB by way of a chute 31 for this purpose. The very fine material passing through the lower screen is directed through a hopper 38 into a third bin I6. This unit is disposed in a horizontal plane, that is to say, the screens are not tilted in any manner.

The discharge chutes are fabricated of metal and have those portions which are specifically contacted by the material lined with rubber in the same manner as the feeding and separating unit.

The advancing and separating unit II is supported for movement on the stationary frame in the following manner. I-beam rails 39 are bolted on the top of the channel iron frame, specifically the side elements thereof, the unit being suspended between these side rails.

For the purpose of suspension and operation a pair of square shafts 40 are provided, one toward each end of the unit, passing through the side plates thereof. These rods may be aptly described as stationary fixed axles for the feeding and separating unit. They are held in position against lateral displacement by means of angle iron pieces 4| bolted to the side plates on the inner faces thereof and against opposite faces of the rods. Bolts 42 disposed through the center of the axle or through the abutting flanges of the angle iron pieces secure each shaft in position against rotative and axial displacement.

The outer ends of the axle rods are round at each end, having a slide block 43 mounted thereon. Each of these slide blocks is disposed for slid-- ing movement in the square passageway 44 of inclined guides 45 adjustably mounted on the channel iron side rails previously mentioned. A slot 46 is provided in each guide in the inner side wall thereof so as to provide clearance for movement of the axle as the slide block moves along the inclined guide channel.

Each guide block is yieldably mounted for the purpose of reducing vibration. For this purpose a rectangular tray-like element 41 is provided for each guide. A rubber pad 48 is formed in the bottom of this element, about half filling the same. The guide element is of the same outline as the inside dimension of the tray-like element, and is fitted snugly but slidably therein. The rubber insert, the tray-like element, and the guide ele ment are secured together by means of screws 49 extended from the bottom of the tray, through the insert and into the guide element.

The tray-like element is disposed at an angle. For the purpose of attachment it includes hinge lugs 50 at its forward end cooperating with a hinge element 5| secured to the side rail. It is tipped the requisite amount and held in adjusted position by means of support rods 52 having pivoted or hinge connection to hinge brackets 53 at its other or upper end. These support rods extend through the top flange 54 of the channel iron side rail and are screw-threaded for purposes of attachment. Nuts 55 above and below the flange make it possible to raise and lower the rods and secure the same rigidly in position as desired.

The advancing and separating unit, when moved in relation to these guideways, takes an angular path, that is to say, raises on forward movement and lowers on backward movement Reciprocation is imparted for this purpose through the driving mechanism Hi.

The motor I5 is mounted beneath the delivery unit I2 and incorporates the usual pulley 56 disposed beyond the line of the framework of the delivery unit. Eccentric devices 5! are provided, one toward each end of a shaft 58 which is journalled in a housing 59. The housing is of long tubular form and is mounted between and upon the side rails 39 as constituted by the I-beams, each beam being of a reduced height at this point to provide for mounting of this housing in a lower plane. A large pulley 6!] is fixed to the outwardly extended end of this shaft and is driven by means of a belt 6| disposed between it and the pulley 56 of the motor.

The housing is split in the horizontal plane of the axis of the eccentric driving shaft. The lower portion 62 of the casing is square, that is, as to the relation of the bottom and side walls for the purpose of secure anchorage on the rails. It includes feet or flanges 63, which flanges are secured to the side rails by appropriate means such as bolts 64. The shaft is journalled in bosses 65 of the end walls of the housing and has one other end extended through the wall for mounting of the pulley 60 thereon for this purpose.

Rigidly fixed actuator arms 66 forming the devices 51 extend from each side plate of the advancing and separating unit in parallelism therewith, the outer ends of these arms being disposed within the housing and traversed by the shafts, specifically eccentric portions 61 thereof. The outer end of each arm provides an attachment flange 68 at right angles to the arm. Upright angle iron corner pieces 69 are secured at the inner and outer side of each side plate of the unit at the rear corners of the separating unit. These angle iron pieces are secured to the side plate by rivets 10 passing through adjacent flanges thereof, the other flanges projecting in opposite directions and lying in parallelism with and adjacent to the cross flange 68 of the arm.

Bolts H secure the arm to these angle iron pieces by passage through the cross flange, and the flanges of the angle iron pieces adjacently disposed thereto. This cross flange may be aptly described as a face plate since it extends Vertically as well as horizontally for rigid attachment to the corner of the feeding and separating unit. I

The housing includes openings 12 through which these arms pass, the openings being sulficiently large enough to permit the ordinary lateral movements of the arms produced by the eccentrics operating on the unit. A flexible sealing sleeve 13 is secured around the arm onto the outer face of the housing marginally of each opening for the purpose of sealing the openings against the entrances of dirt, or for the purpose of preventing loss of lubricant from the interior of the housing since it is intended that the mechanism within the housing operate in an oil bath.

Anti-friction devices 14 are provided between, the eccentric portion 61 of the shaft and the arm. The actuated end of the arm which is of square casing structure is split for assembly purposes in a vertical plane crosswise to the extent of the arm, the sections being held together by bolts 15 passing through outwardly projected flanges for this purpose.

A conventional roller bearing 16 is fitted about the eccentric portion of the shaft. A vertically movable bearing block 11 is disposed about the ball bearing and fits snugly within the rectangular casing of the arm. Roller bearing elements 18 are inserted between this bearing block and the vertical walls of the arm operating within cross grooves 19 in the respective sides of the bearing block.

It will be seen that through this arrangement, as the arms are reciprocated by pressure of the journal block against the end walls of the housing of the arm, the bearing block is free to move up and down with relation to the arm. It will be appreciated that the movement of the arms imparted to the feeding and separating unit, causes the unit to move up and down the guide channel elements which will in turn move the arms up and down in relation tothe journal block and the eccentric shaft assembly. The rollers 18 permit free vertical movement of the arms as the reciprocal thrusts are taking place between the eccentrics and the arms.

It will be seen that as forward movements are imparted to the feeding and separating unit, the thrust corresponding to the thrust necessary to bring about this movement which occurs in the same plane tends to move the shaft axis in an opposite direction. At high speed these reactions take form in vibration. For this reason an eccentric counterweight B0 is providedfor each eccentric. An arm BI is keyed to the shaft between the unit actuating arm and the bearing, the arm projecting in a direction opposite to that in which the eccentric projects. This arm 8| carries an adjustable weight 82 which is movable radially toward or from the shaft axis through the medium of a slot 83 in the arm.

The weight 82 is held in place by means of a bolt 84 securing a corrugated or knurled face thereof against a corrugated or knurled face 85 of the arm. The weight for purposes of convenient arrangement may extend circumferentially, that is, may be of arc form. These eccentric counterweights, disposed as they are, tend to lessen or off-set the reactionary thrusts on the shaft.

Having described our invention, we claim:

A screening and separating apparatus comprising, a framework, a screen, means for supporting the screen, guide elements mounted on the framework including upwardly forwardly inclined slots, resilient inserts disposed between the guide elements and the framework for cushioning the framework against the efiects of vibration occurring in the screen, guides projecting laterally from the screen and engageable in said slots, and power driven mechanism for reciprocating the screen in the slots.

RAYMOND E. CHURCH. GEORGE L. SELLARS. 

